LONDON (AP) — AstraZeneca says it expects to have a new version of its COVID-19 vaccine ready for use by this autumn as drugmakers respond to concerns about emerging variants of the disease that may be more transmittable or resistant to existing vaccines. The Anglo-Swedish company, which makes a vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, said Thursday it is working with the university’s scientists to adapt the shot to combat new variants. Researchers began this work months ago when the variants were first detected, said Mene Pangalos, head of biopharmaceuticals research for AstraZeneca.
